If Shadow Of The Colossus were a movie, it's pretty clear that it'd be Orson Welles' best known work, "Citizen Kane." Not that it's in black and white -- although it's not the most colourful of titles -- but simply because it's a masterpiece of a game in terms of artistic direction and scope.

Everything up until now has been impressive, but nothing compares to the impact this game will have in terms of what you expect from your game playing experiences.

Lumines is a game that many people will unfortunately ignore but we can almost guarantee once you've captured all the monkeys, won all the races in Ridge Racer, grinded all the boards and finished all the underground races, you will still be playing Lumines.

A stunning achievement for both Rockstar and Sony. It shows just how powerful the PS2 system is when used right. This game has the potential to last months and months on end, especially for the 100% target.

The best console arcade racing game ever and perhaps the best of all time, even topping the mighty "Daytona USA."

Where NFL 2K5 really shines from an Australian perspective, however, is that it really nails the TV presentation aspect.

An early candidate for 2004's best PC game and quite possibly the smartest game purchase choice you'll make since leaving "Daikatana" on the shelf.

The best football/soccer management game ever made.

Combining a powerful turn based engine for the management, and an insanely enjoyable RTS engine for the battles, Activision and The Creative Assembly have produced what could easily be the best strategy game of 2004.

It will change the way you think about RPG's and video games forever.

You will be hard pressed to find a FPS that looks better than Half Life 2 when it is played at its max settings.

The game is challenging, but the challenge of the game seems incredibly balanced.

The best description for Far Cry would be "a game that received hype, but lived up to every last damn word of it".

One of the finest looking Gamecube games on the system to date, if not the finest. From the moment you first fire up the game, you are thrown into a visual explosion of detail which is enhanced greatly by the scanning systems in the game and also the various enemies.

This is the greatest representation of the National Football League to hit the market thus far and the 2005 additions make the game even more value for money and interesting to play.

For the PC gamers out there who like a great story, intense action and varied gameplay, Chronicles of Riddick will really get you going, allowing it to go down as one of the best examples of a game which paired stealth, hand to hand and action in first person gameplay and passed with flying colours.

One of the best tactical action games ever released and also one of the most accessible.

Tells a brilliant story, delivers intensive action, and produces a fine adventure/platform title for all types of gamers.

The diversity in gameplay, multiplayer potential and mod possibilities all add up to make a game that many of us will be playing for a long time to come. Sinking your teeth into the game will take some time, but with the help of the manual and tutorial videos it is not that daunting at all.

More cars, more tracks, more modes and some of the most impressive graphics the Xbox has ever produced.

Gone are the drab boring levels from Pandora, in are some fantastic new levels such as a Russian Boat, a security corporation and others.

It is practically the same thing, just louder, bigger and better.

The music comes more towards the player as a cinematic element rather a primary track and it is similar to some of the more recent James Bond films during the faster paced action scenes.

Without a doubt this game is a must have for any Naval Simulation fan, the flexibility in complexity has so much to offer that allows for beginner all the way through to expert.

With the lackluster control pad support/implementation aside, if you're a PC gamer wanting NFL action, Madden 2005 is the game to get as there literally is no contest, but don't think EA take it easy because of this, as Madden 2005 is the PC's best yet by far.

For the seasoned FPS gamers, Doom3 is a little empty beyond the eye candy, because on top of the predictable storyline, the gameplay basically consists of running around shooting baddies, completing generic objectives in the process, and rarely strays far from this, but is that really a bad thing? This is, after all, Doom.

"Ghost Recon" was not a bad game but what Red Storm have done this time around is definitely more action packed and the online play really tops it all off to make Ghost Recon 2 one of the best tactical shooters of the year, if not the best.

Rockstar have captured the lifestyle of the streets perfectly, adding a few colourful characters along the way, humour, plenty of cars and things to do, making this a must have title.

The first game you should buy when you buy a Wii, if you haven't already.

It may not be GTA and it doesn't reach the heady heights of San Andreas in terms of crazy missions but for those who want the next GTA clone which is fun, look no further and swap your leather jacket for a school uniform.

It has the same impressive depth and ability as the highly acclaimed PS2 version.

The developers have done an excellent job bringing the game to a system with less power and fans of the series will obviously pick this one up, but it’s also an excellent introduction to the crazy world of the super monkeys for new comers.

If you want a management game that will challenge your skills as a professional Gridiron GM, then this is the game for you.

While the core game has not changed that much, the bells and whistles EA has added has really added to the game and made it an even better replication of boxing.

The melee action has changed the strategy of the game quite a bit making it much easier to play for a lengthy period of time.

Moto GP 3 continues Climax tradition of superb motorcycle racing games and gives the PC possibly the best racing game of the year for the platform, ironic considering it’s not a car game.

Nintendo has really captured the essence and features of what makes the series so popular and why it is one of the most revered and well recognized game series ever made.

The game is also really easy to get to grips with and features some very user friendly mechanics. For instance, jumping off a building will automatically deploy the rapel, eliminating the possibility of a mistake.

Obviously with the port to PS2 the graphics have taken a hit but not nearly as much as many people would have expected.

One of the sparklier gems in the GameCube's small but meticulously crafted treasure chest.

Tekken: Dark Resurrection PSP could have been better, but when the only notable problem with the game – its repetition - is a genre wide problem, then you know you have a winner on your hands.

Codemasters have produced one of the finest and complete racing games ever made and even if you don't like the V8 Supercars (Are you Australian?) then you will find something to like in this huge plethora of racing series. Absolutely positively must buy title!

The Warriors is brutal, and part of what it gets right when it comes to brutal is in accurately showing and depicting large scale gang wars.

Somehow Burnout 4 has managed to be faster than "Burnout 3," and while it is not a huge jump it is a very noticeable one. Once you play Burnout 4, you just wont' be able to go back to "Burnout 3" as it feels like your driving a snail.

Visually the game is stunning. You really need a HDTV to see this game the way it should be played but even at the lower resolution its better than anything on the console so far.

Just as playable on PS2 as it was the Xbox.

It’s hard to explain in words why the peripheral works so well and why you actually feel like you’re the next Dire Straits.

For half the price of most 360 games, you get one of world’s most original games in a long long time and one of the best 360 games to boot as well.

The visuals of the game are nothing short of stunning. We don't think we're being overly optimistic in saying this game is one of the best looking games you will ever play.

Stunning graphics, awesome soundtrack and top notch story combine to make this one of the year’s must have titles and not just for the PSP.

The most complete NBA basketball game made to date.

Once in-game it is clear The Sims 2 has improved greatly as far as neighbourhood interaction is concerned.

EA has really created the best balling game thus far with a better storyline than NBA Ballers and better gameplay than "NBA Jam."

If you ever wanted to see GTA3 done in a warzone environment and done very well at that, Mercenaries is the game for you.

The action is sensational and amazingly varied, and the world is totally immersive because of the game's somewhat unique approach to the visuals and environment, not despite of it.

Mad Doc have done what many may have thought they couldn't, taken another developers baby and produced one of the finest RTS games you will play this year.

If Vanessa Williams sang 'Save the best for last' about Microsoft, it would be about this game.

A very solid tactical action game, that won't break the bank.

It has its problems and it's a bit of a let down considering the next generation console, but what Nintendo have done is used the Wii's strengths well with this game and that along with an excellent storyline, makes Twilight Princess a must have for early Wii owners.

Absolutely positively one of the best football games ever made and shows that EA is serious about competing with "Pro Evo Soccer."

Trackmania United really is a united gaming experience - even when you're not competing online, the online community elements are still there. Couple this with addictive and challenging "hot wheels" like gameplay, and you have a very complete, very "alive" arcade racing package.

The AI is still shocking but we see it as a game that you buy to race cars you can't afford not a game you buy to race AI drivers with brains.

While some of the horror elements to the storyline may seem a tad cliché, the game's almost perfect fundamentals and solid extra's makes it an instant nominee for 2005 PC Game of the Year.

With the ability to travel all around Spira from the get go, this is also going to lead to spoilers from Final Fantasy X, but also allows you to do a bit of exploring should you get stuck at some point in the game.

More impressive than the Xbox title if only for the superb visuals the game gives off. Considering the fast aging technology of the PS2 this is quite an achievement and Codemasters can give themselves a pat on the back for creating a quality port that in many ways out does the original.

The graphics of the game are quite impressive with a great draw distance and not much popup to speak off.

They have maintained the scared out of wits feel while keeping the framerate stable.

The storyline alone won't keep everyone going, and since it is unlikely the gameplay will either, the end result is probably going to be a lot of gamers losing interest pretty quickly into the game.

The sheer amount of content alone and the general high quality feel of the game is enough to make this a must have for most RPG fans. If it wasn't for the bugs and the glitches, this is an easy 90+ game.

Everything they have put in the game melds together fantastically well to create the best spaghetti western game for this generation of console systems.

The single player campaign while good, can be frustrating and to get the most out of the game Xbox Live really is a requirement. For everything good about the game there seems to be something disappointing such as the rally driving, but thankfully for Australian gamers and Codemasters, the V8 Supercars section saves this from being an average game.

If you were a fan of last years sublime Full Spectrum Warrior then this is a game that continues that style of play and adds even more playability.

The game is shorter than the original title, and if you play games to get a great ending, Halo 2 is not going to give it to you. The ending made our jaws drop, but not in a positive sense.

If you're looking for your next stealth fix and can stomach the games storyline and content, then Manhunt offers an adult experience with a tough challenge for even the most seasoned gamer.

The balance of management and action is exceptional, the visuals are up there with the best RTS titles to date, and the action is plentiful - it is hard to ask for much more than that.

The brand new career mode has both its pros and cons but overall enhances the replay value of the game significantly and FIFA fans will relish the chance to take each other on online. You'd be hard pressed to find a more fully featured soccer simulation.

The original Delta Force was cutting edge at the time and while Xtreme is a bit of a mission pack, it’s cheap and offers excellent offline and online gaming for under fourty bucks.

It is much more suited towards the serious cyber solider rather than the ex-quake junky with its heavy dependency on tactics and planned strategies, and whilst it is far from perfect itself, the detail and depth offered in Joint Operations is quite exceptional to say the least.

With a pinch of a few extended scenes from the upcoming ROTK Extended Edition, an exorbitant amount of film footage with narration by Sir Ian Mckellen and Sir Christopher Lee, the game is packed with lots to watch and places to explore. It comes highly recommended.

One of the best western style games ever.

It is not without its problems, but it is definitely a member of a dieing breed - in depth single player gameplay with awesome multiplayer to boot.

While the lack of micromanagement may turn some off the game, the action packed style of play may entice a few more fans into the RTS genre.

The developers have taken one of the most popular mega multiplayer games around and created a highly structured, very playable single player game from the Everquest universe.

The only thing stopping Pirates! from becoming one of 2005's best is the lack of variation in the gameplay - it is an immensely enjoyable game at first not to mention very unique, and there are plenty of mini games included, but soon enough repetition sets in with these mini games and it sets in rather hard.

This single player only title is a great market contender to rival platformers such as Jak 3 and Ratchet and Clank 3, however there isn't too much extra to do besides exploring and collecting the clue bottles after the main story has finished.

The developers have done a fantastic job porting the game except for a few graphics problems although the online play was surprisingly tolerable even with the servers in Europe.

The simple interface system works well, the controls are flawless, the graphics aren't too shabby and the gameplay provides a good balance of management and action.

A worthy addition to the series, providing a much more interesting nonlinear style of play. The only major problem that seems to surface is the fact you will need to devote quite some time and mental energy to complete this game, and often the gameplay just gets too stale in the time needed to even complete just a few races in one sitting.

The Xbox version is superior to the PS2 version but those without the choice will still get some great gameplay out of Fight Night 2004, even if they aren't the biggest fan of boxing.

Melbourne House have still done a fantastic job and the problems the game does have are very much overshadowed by the authenticity and fantastic gameplay contained within the game.

Whilst it delves into reasonably technical gameplay as far as profit and loss management goes, it still offers very addictive and fun gameplay at the same time, and this should appeal to PC gamers abroad.

I-Ninja takes the stereotypes typically used around ninja characters, and exploits them into quite a humorous and enjoyable game.

Within the adventure mode the stylus control is a somewhat weak idea that shifts the learning curve upwards steeply, making a very accessible game a great deal less so. If you stick to digital control - and it's not that precise a game, to be honest - then you'll find Mario 64 DS to be a great title.

The familiarity of the characters will allow all gamers to relate to the game plus the fact it offers both serious and not so serious game modes really enhances the game and makes it one of the better tennis games around, even when compared to proper simulation titles.

The completely open ended style of the game means that no two gamers will tackle the challenges the same and this offers a great level of replay to the game as well.

It is true Port Royale 2 isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it is a very solid and enjoyable strategy/simulation with loads and loads of gameplay presuming you have the patience and passion to keep playing it.

Quite possibly the most under rated DS game so far.

I was the opposite of an encyclopedia of boxing. Now however, if given the opportunity to watch it on TV, I could actually sit down and have a gander at a few rounds with some interest. This shows just how good Fight Night 2004 is.